Need help getting started

What has helped me is allowing myself credit for just starting. For example, I know I really don't want to get on the treadmill, but I tell myself to do it for 5 minutes, and if I hate it, I can stop. After five minutes I tell myself, well, I'll just do another 5. Then I do another 10. I always end up doing all 30 minutes.

I do something similar when it comes to food. Say I really want French fries. I tell myself "You can have some tomorrow if you really want them, but for now, lets eat what you planned first." So I eat my "diet" meal and I find it delicious; after I eat it, I don't want that other tempting food anymore.

Giving myself the option to NOT follow my plan somehow makes me stick with my plan. I hate deprivation; if I feel deprivation is being forced on me, I'll rebel. But giving myself a choice reminds me that it really is a choice, and at least for today, I'm going to stick with good choices.

I agree with the others, take baby steps literally and figuratively. Don't try to do too much too soon or you will end up frustrated, injured or burned out. You need to slowly ease into a regular program if you've been sedentary for a long time.

Where to start ? If you're in reasonably good health with no prior medical issues, how about a daily walk ? doctors will tell you that taking a 30 minute walk each day can reduce your risk for heart disease by over 30%. Not bad for a simple walk.

So, why not start with a daily walk ? If 30 minutes seems like too much, start with 10 minutes. Taking three 10 minute walks spaced out through the day, still adds up to 30 minutes. You can break your workouts up into shorter segments and still get all the health benefits.

Also, when is the last time you had a physical ? If a person wants to start a healthy lifestyle, they really should start with a full physical. You need to know things like your cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc... all of these things will change with time. But, you need to know where those numbers are now.

If you're diabetic, that means you're going to have to be careful what you eat. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor. Regular check ups are part of that healthy lifestyle.

I'd suggest finding a few friends or family members that you can turn to for support. My husband ALWAYS encourages me to go to the gym and never lets me take a cheat day from exercise. Not for any hateful reasons, but because he knows I always feel fantastic after a good work out (plus it's a must for my mental health and anxiety!). Also adding as many fruits and veggies as you can to your diet.

Whether it's exercise or nutrition, finding things you LOVE keeps you going. Try lots of new things until you find one or two that you love to do/eat, and it'll make life much easier for you! Good luck!

Taking baby steps to a healthier lifestyle might help you stay motivated in the long run. Start off by making small changes in your diet, exercise a few days a week with something you enjoy, and build on that eventually while continuously improving your diet. Good luck and have fun!

Also - the putting your sneakers on trick works for me too, except I do it with my exercise clothes. I go to work or wherever half-dressed for a workout so that when I get home, all I have to do is put on shorts and get my butt moving.

Little trick my friend uses is she puts on her gym shoes. Since her shoes are on, she may as well go for a walk. Start going around the block.

SPARK_COACH_JEN
Posts:
64,436
12/10/12 5:56 A

Hello!

My advice is to start small. Don't feel like you have to completely overhaul your life all at once. A good start would be to set 2-3 small goals to work toward over the next few weeks. They could be things like starting to track your food, drinking more water or exercising for 10 minutes each day. This helps set a pattern of consistency and can help motivate you to continue working toward larger goals.

Hello everyone. It's plan and simple I need to take control of my life. My goal is to eat better and work out, but it seems I always find a way out of it. Looking for people to tell me to get up and do it. Any pointers would be a plus. Good luck to everyone trying to better themselves.

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